Tag Archive for 'Biking'

3,000k

Published on 12/6/2009. 1 Comment Tags: , , , .

Well…km I guess (Doug!). Today, I hit 3,000 kilometers on the bike. July 1 of this year, I hit 2,000 kilometers and decided then I was going to double my previous year’s effort. I’m a little behind it, but it seems I’m on my way. I know there are a LOT of people who ride a LOT more than I do, but I’m pretty proud of myself.

Today is a miserable and cold day outside, I decided I needed a ride. Knowing I wouldn’t be around much this afternoon, I decided to get downstairs and pound out some distance on the rollers. As I began cranking away, I remembered I was only 22k from my goal; so I dropped a few gears and mashed down hard on the cranks. Inside, without wind resistance and shit road conditions, 22k isn’t much work, so it only took my all of about 40 minutes, but what a great 40 it was. With that goal in mind, the kilometers seemed to melt away and before I knew it, my goal had been reached (Cosmic Egg by Wolfmother also helped).

With the winter upon us, I’m not so sure I’ll be able to keep pounding out the miles. Frankly, though I have great winter gear, I’ve not been all that enthused about riding in the cold weather. While the rollers are a lot of fun, it’s just not the same as being outside. So, with that, I’ve renewed my commitment to riding at least once (though I’ll shoot for twice) each week. Here’s to thousands of more kilometers on one of man’s greatest creations.

The Fall Is Coming…

Published on 9/8/2009. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

…I can feel it. I’ve been spending a LOT of time thinking about the upcoming off-season. I’m planning a few small gear purchases; things I’ll need to keep up the commute through the winter. Above all, I’m dreaming of the crisp fall evenings, with cold air rushing through my nostrils and the scent of burning leaves triggering fond memories of my favorite season of the year. I think of slicing through the misty night, my wheels cutting the air ahead of me as I pedal further and further towards a destination I will never reach; knowing no matter how much I ride, I’ll always want more.

I’ve been thinking further, towards the winter. I miss my riding partner Ryan. He’s moved on to new things and I can’t help but think the upcoming winter is just going to be a little less fun without him pushing me to go bigger and learn more. Despite that loss though, I will continue to push on. I can almost hear the snow crunching beneath the wide rubber of my mountain bike tires and I can almost see my the trail of breath I leave as I hammer my way across the snowy backwoods of my favorite winter spot. In some ways, I’m secretly awaiting the comments of how crazy I am for riding a bike in the winter. Of course, many people I know and work with think it’s crazy enough I ride my bike 42 kilometers to work and back a few days a week; I can only anticipate they will be further befuddled by my tenacity.

Mostly though, I’m just excited to keep riding.

Salt City Sprints

Published on 7/10/2009. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

I kick ass. As a matter of fact, you have no idea how much ass I kick.

Tonight, a coworker invited me to a local club where her husband was putting on a cycling competition? Cycling? At a club? A great question Watson, now let us deduce.

Salt City Sprints was started by my coworker’s husband, who also runs the local bicycle collective. As the website states, it’s quite simple:

The basics of these sprints entails two riders. Not only are you racing each other, but also the clock. Two stationary track bikes will be mounted via a fork stand. The rear wheel will spin freely on the Krietler roller system. The distance that the each rider travels will be accurately measured through our in house designed (more on the technical vervage later), connected via USB port to our computer. This method will much more accurately measure statistics like time, speed, distance and wattage. We might even throw in an actual light bulb to see how much electricity your throwing down. Holla!

I can’t quite recall the distance (my guess is something close to a quarter mile, 400 meters?), but I know it’s equal to turning the cranks something like 54 times on a 53/15 gear. Stiff.

So, she and her husband raced and afterward, she asked me if I’d do it; after a minute, I agreed. The organizers found a girl (Laura) to race and it was on. Clipped in, adjusted the seat, and 4, 3, 2, 1, Go! We were off. I peddled as fast as I have in a LONG time and it seemed like forever. Soon, I was finished. The results?

15.705 seconds. Max speed 59mph. The fastest time of the night. First time on the bike, I won. Of course, that speed is adjusted, there is little friction and no wind resistance, but still, I was hauling ass. Two of the guys I met tonight were close, but me…the new guy…won. I was so elated. I didn’t think I’d be that fast. Many other people were in the mid to high 17s and low 18s. I hammered it. Despite the fact that I was a bit nauseous afterwards, I was blown away.

So, that was my Thursday night. I rode home all the way from 600 N. and 400 W. I put in well over 50k today. It was a great day on the bike. Time for bed.

2,000k

Published on 7/1/2009. 2 Comments Tags: , , .

So, Im pretty proud of myself. I looked down at my odometer after finishing my ride home tonight and realized I broke 2,000 kilometers on my bike recently. Actually, thats just 2,000 road kilometers, I dont measure my mountain bike rides.

2,000k in a little over a year isnt bad (Im at 2,120k actually). I started commuting last year in the last week of May. Since, Ive commuted on and off and have been making every attempt recently to ride at least two of my four workdays every week. Of course, Im completely unsatisfied with 2,000k and know Im capable of much more. Frankly, I could double that. Hell, 2,000k is only 40k per week. My daily commute from Midvale to downtown is 42k. I can do better.

So, Im going to think of a goal and really make sure its attainable. Ill update the site when I settle and even see if I can find some way of tracking it on the site. Until then, Ill continue patting my own back.

Danny MacAskill

Published on 4/23/2009. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted, I’ve got a lot of personal stuff going on. However, this video has been going around various online biking communities and so I thought I’d share it to those who may not see it. Pay close attention to it as this is some of the most amazing trials riding I’ve ever seen. Oh, and if your connection allows it, turn on HD by going to the original YouTube link. The song is “The Funeral” by Band of Horses.

Inspired Bicycles – Danny MacAskill April 2009